Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 17 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Wichita
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
41% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $18,266 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 44°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Rent averages $442/mo less ($915 vs $1,357)
Homes cost $80k less ($166,400 vs $246,700)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rio Rancho
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $18,266/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$18,266
$78,978 vs $60,712/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
41% lower
318.2 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$80k less
$166,400 vs $246,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 17 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 17 and Wichita wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Rio Rancho to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($78,978 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Wichita, KS are about 545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.